Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?
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Written: 04/30/2005 
Author: RickBHendrix
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Leave No Stone Unturned
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Here I am again - sitting here with so many things - important topics - vying for text space. So many friends and associates have called to make suggestions. It boils down to this: of all the things I want to say (or other people want me to say), the thing that really has my attention today is what I consider the worst thing in our business. Let's forget the radio promotions, bad projects, bad singing, fly-by-night labels, and number one songs. There's a bigger problem.
The lack of unity in the industry. That's the worst thing in our business, friends.
I have watched jealousy and control cause both artists and industry people to lose thousands of dollars - not to mention respect - on which there is no price. I have watched folks just about turn green at the sight of who was on the cover of a magazine, who had the best ad, who got the highest song, who got to sing first, and who has the nicest bus. And within the industry circles, I have seen labels fight to keep names off artwork, ads, billboards and other industry press items. In recording circles I have seen them threatening an artist, erase their masters, drop them from labels, black list them and totally ruin their name and credibility.
Why? Just to try and control the pie. (We will talk more about pie in a bit.) But, some of the folks in our industry are breeding this kind of competitive and controlling spirit. They are all but encouraging people to be competitive to the point of nearly pitting them against each other.
Now, on to the pie. Picture Southern Gospel music as an All American apple pie. The table is set. We have a pie in the middle of the table, 12 chairs, 12 forks and 12 ideas. Within this circle are very greedy, controlling and vicious players. Their thoughts are, we only have 12 slices, we can only feed so many, very shortly - goes the thinking - we're gonna get powerful hungry. So in their greed, they slide their chairs closer, blocking anyone from entering this last supper of the polyester kings. Anyone steps in to even smell that pie, you may get a boot to the shin, a fork to the hand, or more likely, a whispered rumor to destroy your credibility.
Come eat some of this pie at my house. Here's how we would set it. First we make the table a buffet. We look past this table, 12 chairs, 12 forks and pie being the only source of survival. We don't shut others out because our pie is too small. No. We invite them to come join us, and bring another pie, or - hey, stop at KFC on your way over, would you? More thoughts, music, ideas, abilities - a whole new menu, in fact. That table? Shoot, let's sit on the ground. One thing about the ground. There's plenty of it. Now, we are on open land. We have many hands willing to increase the food, increase the base, and expand Southern Gospel music.
Our sales, radio and circulation are all dying for a reason. You can only sell so many times to the same customer. Any business can stay afloat as long as they keep expenses down and maintain their client list. The problem is the expenses are not coming down in Southern Gospel music. Fuel is higher, artists are begging for dates, labels are starving for capital, and radio needs advertisers and listeners. Again, the problem is back to the pie. Once something is eaten, it's gone. FOREVER. The only solution is to bake another. But, when doing so you need to plan outside the box. Embrace the new labels, artists and fans. If this is handled properly, you bring in new churches, new fans and new talent.
The major labels need to look past the recoupment stage of a project. They need to advertise in other areas, solicit airplay in new markets, and push booking agents to drive their artists into new territory. We have killed the South. If Southern Gospel music were an apple tree, not only is the fruit gone, the leaves, branches and the roots are history. Everyone is playing ball in the same fields, the same stations, same churches, the same ads, same budgets, same writers and producers. If you have played the game for more than a few years, and you're still begging for dates, selling a few thousand CDs, and trying to break a hit record - change now.
I know of only a handful of Southern Gospel artists financially surviving. Why? They are playing a system that plays them. Don't be afraid to cross the boundaries and step outside in the rain. We are made up of mostly water. No one ever accomplished great things without creating new things, new thoughts, new ground. You have to decide if you are trying to win a popularity contest or win results. Are you trying to make it on what you have or what people say you can have? So with that said - move outside your circles.
Listen to your own convictions, not the industry's.
Rick Hendrix
http://www.rickhendrix.com
Reader Comments
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A great article, Rick. Thanks for your insightful writing. Hope those who need to read it do just that.God is good all the time & all the time God is good.
Elaine Harcourt
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let us always rember our genere is more ministry than industry
as in many churches there are those who lose
sight on the reason we serve and look to whos in the limelight who gets to be seen more and who gets paid more
but when we sing at a little country church somewhere and see some poor old saint who lost a loved moved to tears beciuse of a song we sing about heaven or hope
or if we see one make theyre way to the altar
after being convicted through the holy spirit ministered by some seed weve sown
thats means more than a number one song or a ten thousand dollar royalty check
let us never forget that
james metcalf
wjfj radio
columbus nc -
Hi Rick-
Another fairly masterful job of striking the nail directly on the head. You have truly said alot. I found it fascinating that my years-long friend Duane Nicholson, was one of the very first to respond. Others who have responded, have referred to the testimony and impact that the Couriers had, as tremendously positive impact, on SGM. Your article, while it is true of others, would never have been true in ANY way of the Couriers.
And why is that? Let's get back to your "piece of the pie" illustration, and look at it from a slightly different angle. What makes a truly great pie? Literally, how excellent the fruit is. While, as Christians, we are not called to be the final judges of our brothers and sisters, we are told to be "fruit inspectors".
IMHO- much of what is the truth behind your words may be related directly to the lack of fruit in the lives of some of these entertainers, and others who have a direct impact on this industry.
This may be harsh; it may result in alot of angry responses, but some of the folks in this business today do not live what they sing, or what they promote. And this is truly a sad phenomenon.
Keep up the good work. And I need to talk to you anyway...get in touch when you have a minute. -
I loved The Couriers and find it sad. I was in concert recently and a well known artist was really rude to me. I remained calm at the tape table. They continued talking to another well known artist. The artist even told the guy"You can help her she has been waiting" He waved his hand in the air like she can doesnt matter. My heart was broken. I was crushed.I paid good money to see them. I felt so low and little. I find it hard to hear this quartet on my radio and not wonder what they are like inside the bus. I love Southen Gospel music. I pray for all of the groups. Even the rude mean ones.
Sue -
Rick, another great group about sharing the pie, or even bringing another pie to the table is the Lesters from St Louis, MO. For years they have helped young up and coming groups, adn been an encouragement to everyone in the business. Jim
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This problem is not unique to Southern Gospel music. All of the music industry is controlled by five or six large media conglomerates, and you have the play the game their way or not play at all. These media giants not only produce the vast majority of commercial music, they also own a large segment of the radio and television industry. Most of the Contemporary Christian music industry is owned by these conglomerates. Southern Gospel music is still largely independent. But SG is trying to be like the giants and that is why there is so much trouble.
But it does not have to be that way. With the advancement of digital technology and computers, music can be created, recorded, manufactured and distributed relatively cheaply without touching the industry's product stream. Communication and marketing are also available now, more than ever, to the average person. So, we no longer have to use the industry's methods to produce our songs and get them into the hands of the listener.
So what does this have to do with the subject at hand? The entertainment industry captures its' artists by using the "you can be an idol, we can make you rich" mentality. It's this same mentality that causes the SG labels to abuse their artists, but also keeps the artists coming back for more. If we as artists and musicians can lose this "starry-eyed" mentality, we won't be looking to the record companies to make us rich quick. We will not be looking to the industry to make us stars. We will not look to the powers that be to tell us what style of music or type of lyric we will sing.
Instead, we would look to God to help us create original and good music. We would find new and creative ways to produce and market what God has given us. We would free ourselves from industry ways that only stifle and destroy what we do.
So, what are we as artists going to do? Are we going to continue to try getting into an industry that does not want us and will only destroy us, or will we allow God to help us create our own place and be blessed? -
Good googily goo! (LOL)
Rick, dude, you are my hero! -
RICK! I have never been more honored to be your friend! YOU ROCK! Thank you for inviting us to bring our own pie and come to your buffet and SHARE! your phrases were so funny - poly king!
Your friend
Johnathan -
I agree, Rick!
Let's leave the table, and get out into the "fields which are white unto harvest."
The One Who multiplied the loaves and fishes will provide for us in abundance!
Instead of fighting over the last "piece of pie", let's work together to feed a world that is starving for the gospel in song! -
Rick
Very great article. Sad thing but true. How come we all can not get along? Why so many conflicts? I can sum it up in a couple words "PRIDE" and a "lack of good honest communication". People tend to run in their own circles and forget those other people. In the industry as well as life in general people tend to shun and ignore those that make mistakes. Is that a Christian way of acting? What would Jesus do?
Holly
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